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curleytwin2's review
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beccadbuss's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
febnalae's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
hannahmcc171's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
seventhbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.75
clarereadstheworld's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
stacialithub's review
4.0
This is one I started a few months ago, then set aside when I was having a lot of trouble reading (in general). It took me a few stories to get into the rhythm & style of storytelling (& it helped immensely when I realized there's a glossary) & I ultimately found this to be a compelling collection of somewhat intertwined stories of village life among the lower castes. I'm really pleased I got this one to expand my reading horizons as it did exactly that. Lovely cover art too. I've read only a couple of books from Tilted Axis Press but I am impressed with their choices.
Read for Women in Translation Month. Dalit ("untouchable") feminist stories, trans. from the Tegulu (a Dravidian language used in some parts of southern India).
Read for Women in Translation Month. Dalit ("untouchable") feminist stories, trans. from the Tegulu (a Dravidian language used in some parts of southern India).
qomareads's review
4.0
Lower caste versus higher caste. It’s hard to get into this as it contains a huge number of untranslated Telugu words, albeit there’s a glossary, but when you get into it, it’s pretty captivating and engaging to follow through the story and the characters.
Taking inspiration from the author's childhood memories and background, she weaved it into such a riveting story.
I am always fascinated with other people's cultures in different parts of the world and this book is just right up my alley.
Taking inspiration from the author's childhood memories and background, she weaved it into such a riveting story.
I am always fascinated with other people's cultures in different parts of the world and this book is just right up my alley.
libbysbookshelf's review against another edition
FATHER MAY BE AN ELEPHANT, AND MOTHER A SMALL BASKET, BUT… by GOGU SHYAMALA
India 🇮🇳
A title with punctuation and a cliffhanger, how could I not purchase and devour this book? And that cover art? It had me at hello.
This is my first completed book for Women in Translation Month because a certain book prize got in my way.
It was a great way to kick off because it’s a collection of short stories translated from Telagu by various writers. The stories are so culturally different from almost anything else I’ve ever read, so it took me a few stories to get into it, but once I got the hang of it, I was hooked.
Mostly, these stories are about a lower caste of Indian people; people who tend the land, and by birth are inferior to other castes in society. This can mean that, in some cases, they can’t even make eye contact with those more superior. Patriarchy also seems to rule the lives of these characters. But among all of that, there was an everyday life, and sometimes, real beauty.
Approach these stories with the expectation that you’re going to enter a new culture (assuming you don’t know much about south eastern India) and you will be quietly swept away.
#witmonth #womenintranslation #telaguliterature #telagu #gogushyamala #book #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk
India 🇮🇳
A title with punctuation and a cliffhanger, how could I not purchase and devour this book? And that cover art? It had me at hello.
This is my first completed book for Women in Translation Month because a certain book prize got in my way.
It was a great way to kick off because it’s a collection of short stories translated from Telagu by various writers. The stories are so culturally different from almost anything else I’ve ever read, so it took me a few stories to get into it, but once I got the hang of it, I was hooked.
Mostly, these stories are about a lower caste of Indian people; people who tend the land, and by birth are inferior to other castes in society. This can mean that, in some cases, they can’t even make eye contact with those more superior. Patriarchy also seems to rule the lives of these characters. But among all of that, there was an everyday life, and sometimes, real beauty.
Approach these stories with the expectation that you’re going to enter a new culture (assuming you don’t know much about south eastern India) and you will be quietly swept away.
#witmonth #womenintranslation #telaguliterature #telagu #gogushyamala #book #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk
the_literarylinguist's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5